destination in the European travel market.
Greece
Greece is a European destination that has grown in popularity with tourists in recent years. In the
past destinations like Spain, France, Portugal and Italy would be the place to go for a holiday with
sunshine but there has been an increase in tourist numbers travelling to Greece, which has a
number of different islands. Greece was expected to welcome a record 32 million international
visitors in 2018, up from 6.2 million in 1998, 15 million in 2010 and 30 million in 2017. One of the
factors contributing to Greece is growing in popularity is that it is now starting to become an all year
round destination, with March through to November being great months to travel around the
islands and mainland. On Butlers Tourism Area Life Cycle Greece has been in the first few stages of
involvement, exploration and development. Greece’s Tourism Minister, Elena Kountoura said that
British leisure travel group TUI, have an invested half a billion euros on Crete and another 5 billion
for 10 very large projects that are in progress. This is set to attract more tourists to the area .This fits
into the development stage on Butlers Tourism Area Life Cycle, as there is the development of new
holiday resorts by company’s like TUI, which leads to the growth in popularity of an area. Another
Factor, which has increased Tourism to Greece, is in the increase in International airlines flying
straight into Greek Hotspots as they have seen the potential for mass tourism, there is 35
airlines who fly to Greece. The increase in availability of Transport to Greece will cause more
tourists to travel there. Another factor contributing to Greeces has increased in popularity
as a holiday destination is because of the development of new party towns on islands for
example Kavos and Zante. People who would have previously gone to destinations like Ibiza
are now trying Greece as a party holiday destination and is now said to be one of the best
locations for nightlife with world Famous DJs performing at these party destinations, this
has increased the number of people travelling to Greece each year. The increase in Eco
tourism has influenced tourism in Greece in a positive manner. There has been the development
of ecofriendly accommodation in Greece e.g. Eumelia Organic Agro tourism Farm &
Guesthouse, this is a completely green economical destination and the development of
these types of destinations has increased the number of tourists travelling to Greece
because people now want to be more environmentally friendly.